Lace Adjuster

ABSTRACT

A lace adjuster includes a longitudinal flexible hollow wall and an adjusting unit. The hollow wall defines a longitudinal passage with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends, and has two through holes that extend therethrough between the first and second open ends. The adjusting unit is disposed in the longitudinal passage, and includes a longitudinal ring body that defines a ring opening and that has two abutting ring sections on two longitudinally opposite sides of the ring opening, and two clamp pieces extending across and dividing the ring opening into a first stringing hole and two second stringing holes. Each of the clamp pieces is movable toward a corresponding one of the abutting ring sections for clamping a corresponding one of two separate lace segments that extends through a corresponding one of the second stringing holes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Taiwanese Application No. 098120078, filed on Jun. 16, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a lace adjuster, more particularly to a lace adjuster for adjusting a length of a lace easily.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652 discloses an adjustable lace assembly which includes a lace 4′, a tubular member 1, two stop members 3, and two spaced apart inserting pins 2. The lace 4′ is composed of two separate lace segments 4 each having a tagged end 402 and an opposite bent end portion 401. The tubular member 1 has a passage 11 for receiving the bent end portions 401. The stop members 3 are mounted pivotally inside the tubular member 1 at two axially spaced apart positions and span the passage 11. Each of the stop members 3 has an engaging part 31 engageable with one of the bent end portions 401. The inserting pins 2 are insertable removably into the tubular member 1, are capable of disengaging the bent end portions 401, respectively, from the engaging parts 31 of the stop members 3, and permit movement of the bent end portions 401 so that a length between the tagged end 402 of each of the lace segments 4 and a corresponding one of the stop members 3 can be adjusted.

Although the length between the tagged end 402 of each of the lace segments 4 and the corresponding one of the stop members 3 can be adjusted, the adjustable lace assembly has the following disadvantages:

1. Once the bent end portion 401 of each of the lace segments 4 is stopped by a corresponding one of the stop members 3 after removing the inserting pins 2, the length between the tagged end 402 of each of the lace segments 4 and the corresponding one of the stop members 3 can not be further adjusted.

2. Since the inserting pins 2 are required in the adjustable lace assembly, the production and assembly of the adjustable lace assembly is relatively complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a lace adjuster which is simple in structure and which can be reused for adjusting a length of a lace.

According to one aspect of this invention, a lace adjuster, which is adapted for adjusting a length of a lace composed of two separate lace segments, includes a longitudinal flexible hollow wall and an adjusting unit. The longitudinal flexible hollow wall is adapted for receiving portions of the lace segments and defines a longitudinal passage with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends. The longitudinal flexible hollow wall has two through holes that extend therethrough between the first and second open ends and that are adapted for outward extension of the lace segments. The adjusting unit is disposed in the longitudinal passage of the longitudinal flexible hollow wall, and includes a longitudinal ring body that defines a ring opening and that has two abutting ring sections on two longitudinally opposite sides of the ring opening, and two clamp pieces extending across and dividing the ring opening into a first stringing hole confined between the clamp pieces and two second stringing holes each of which is confined between one of the clamp pieces and one of the abutting ring sections. The first and second stringing holes are adapted for passage of the lace segments. Each of the clamp pieces is movable toward a corresponding one of the abutting ring sections for clamping a corresponding one of the lace segments that extends through a corresponding one of the second stringing holes.

According to another aspect of this invention, an adjustable lace device includes a longitudinal flexible hollow wall, an adjusting unit, and two lace segments. The longitudinal flexible hollow wall defines a longitudinal passage with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends, and has two through holes that extend therethrough between the first and second open ends. The adjusting unit is disposed in the longitudinal passage of the longitudinal flexible hollow wall, and includes a longitudinal ring body that defines a ring opening and that has two abutting ring sections on two longitudinally opposite sides of the ring opening, and two clamp pieces extending across and dividing the ring opening into a first stringing hole confined between the clamp pieces and two second stringing holes each of which is confined between one of the clamp pieces and one of the abutting ring sections. Each of the lace segments passes through one of the through holes, the first stringing hole, a corresponding one of the second stringing holes, and a corresponding one of the first and second open ends, and is folded around one of the clamp pieces in the first stringing hole. The clamp pieces are movable respectively toward the abutting ring sections when the lace segments are pulled outwardly and respectively from the first and second open ends, thereby clamping the lace segments, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a conventional lace adjuster disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,343,652;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment when applied to a shoe body; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the preferred embodiment of a lace adjuster 100 according to this invention is shown to be applied to a shoe body 300 that has a plurality of eyelets 310. The lace adjuster 100 is used for adjusting a length of a lace composed of two separate lace segments 200. The lace segments 200 are strung through the eyelets 310, and each of the lace segments 200 has a tagged end portion 220 with a tagged end 230 and a stringing end portion 210 opposite to the tagged end portion 220.

The lace adjuster 100 is installed between the eyelets 310 on a tongue 320 of the shoe body 300, and includes a longitudinal flexible hollow wall 10 and an adjusting unit 20.

The longitudinal flexible hollow wall 10 is adapted for receiving portions of the lace segments 200 and defines a longitudinal passage 11 with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends 111, 112. The longitudinal flexible hollow wall 10 has two through holes 13 that extend therethrough between the first and second open ends 111, 112 and that are adapted for outward extension of the stringing end portions 210 of the lace segments 200. The longitudinal flexible hollow wall 10 is made of fabric, and has an outer surface provided with a mark 14 indicating a trademark or the like.

The adjusting unit 20 is disposed in the longitudinal passage 11 of the longitudinal flexible hollow wall 10, and includes a longitudinal ring body 21 that defines a ring opening 213 and that has two abutting ring sections 211 on two longitudinally opposite sides of the ring opening 213, and two clamp pieces 22 extending across and dividing the ring opening 213 into a first stringing hole 213′ confined between the clamp pieces 22 and two second stringing holes 213″ each of which is confined between one of the clamp pieces 22 and one of the abutting ring sections 211. The first and second stringing holes 213′, 213″ are adapted for passage of the lace segments 200. Each of the clamp pieces 22 is movable toward a corresponding one of the abutting ring sections 211 for clamping the stringing end portion 210 of a corresponding one of the lace segments 200 that extends through a corresponding one of the second stringing holes 213″.

The longitudinal ring body 20 further has two substantially parallel guiding ring sections 212 longitudinally extending between the abutting ring sections 211. Each of the clamp pieces 22 is connected to and slidable along the guiding ring sections 212. Each of the clamp pieces 22 is formed as a rod that has two opposite ends respectively provided with slide holes. The guiding ring sections 212 respectively extend through the slide holes of each of the clamp pieces 22.

Specifically referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in assembly, the stringing end portion 210 of each of the lace segments 200 is strung into the longitudinal passage 11 via a corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112, and is extended through the first stringing hole 213′, over a corresponding one of the clamp pieces 22, into a corresponding one of the second stringing holes 213″, over a corresponding one of the abutting ring sections 211, and out of a corresponding one of the through holes 13. On the other hand, the lace segments 200 are tied to the shoe body 300 by stringing through the eyelets 310 to form a criss-cross pattern on the tongue 320.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the length of each of the lace segments 200 extending out of the corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112 is to be adjusted, the corresponding one of the clamp pieces 22 can be pushed away from the corresponding one of the abutting ring sections 211 because the longitudinal hollow wall 10 is flexible so as to enlarge the corresponding one of the second stringing holes 213″. Therefore, the length of each of the lace segments 200 extending out of the corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112 can be adjusted. When the intended length of each of the lace segments 200 extending out of the corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112 is obtained, the corresponding one of the clamp pieces 22 is movable toward the corresponding one of the abutting ring sections 211 by pulling the corresponding one of the lace segments 200 outwardly from the corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112, thereby clamping the corresponding one of the lace segments 200, as best shown in FIG. 4.

In view of the aforesaid, the following advantages over the prior art can be achieved by the lace adjuster of the present invention:

1. Since the longitudinal hollow wall 10 is flexible, each of the clamp pieces 22 is movable toward or away from the corresponding one of the abutting ring sections 211 along the guiding ring sections 212. Therefore, the length of each of the lace segments 200 extending out of the corresponding one of the first and second open ends 111, 112 can be adjusted repeatedly.

2. Since the components required for the lace adjuster 100 of the present invention are fewer in number as compared to the prior art, the lace adjuster 100 can be produced with relative ease.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A lace adjuster adapted for adjusting a length of a lace composed of two separate lace segments, said lace adjuster comprising: a longitudinal flexible hollow wall adapted for receiving portions of the lace segments and defining a longitudinal passage with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends, said longitudinal flexible hollow wall having two through holes that extend therethrough between said first and second open ends and that are adapted for outward extension of the lace segments; and an adjusting unit disposed in said longitudinal passage of said longitudinal flexible hollow wall, and including a longitudinal ring body that defines a ring opening and that has two abutting ring sections on two longitudinally opposite sides of said ring opening, and two clamp pieces extending across and dividing said ring opening into a first stringing hole confined between said clamp pieces and two second stringing holes each of which is confined between one of said clamp pieces and one of said abutting ring sections, said first and second stringing holes being adapted for passage of the lace segments, wherein each of said clamp pieces is movable toward a corresponding one of said abutting ring sections for clamping a corresponding one of the lace segments that extends through a corresponding one of said second stringing holes.
 2. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal ring body further has two substantially parallel guiding ring sections longitudinally extending between said abutting ring sections, each of said clamp pieces being connected to and slidable along said guiding ring sections.
 3. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said clamp pieces is formed as a rod that has two opposite ends respectively provided with slide holes, said guiding ring sections respectively extending through said slide holes of each of said clamp pieces.
 4. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal flexible hollow wall has an outer surface provided with a mark.
 5. The lace adjuster as claimed in claim 1, wherein said longitudinal flexible hollow wall is made of fabric.
 6. An adjustable lace device comprising: a longitudinal flexible hollow wall defining a longitudinal passage with longitudinally opposite first and second open ends, and having two through holes that extend therethrough between said first and second open ends; an adjusting unit disposed in said longitudinal passage of said longitudinal flexible hollow wall, and including a longitudinal ring body that defines a ring opening and that has two abutting ring sections on two longitudinally opposite sides of said ring opening, and two clamp pieces extending across and dividing said ring opening into a first stringing hole confined between said clamp pieces and two second stringing holes each of which is confined between one of said clamp pieces and one of said abutting ring sections; and two lace segments each of which passes through one of said through holes, said first stringing hole, a corresponding one of said second stringing holes, and a corresponding one of said first and second open ends, and is folded around one of said clamp pieces in said first stringing hole; wherein said clamp pieces are movable respectively toward said abutting ring sections when said lace segments are pulled outwardly and respectively from said first and second open ends, thereby clamping said lace segments, respectively. 